Philips/Norelco EL3302

[Jimmyhaflinger]

great find! this is likely a very early and rare EL3302

[toshik1]

Thanks! Based on how much I spend previous owner did not think so
Cleaned and rebelted - sounds fine with the old caps!
I still insist that the older amplifiers (all Germanium with 19 electrolytic caps) sound much clearer than the 1968 decontented ones. Side-by-side comparison proves so.
I have eight EL3302s so far. On the way Norelco Carry-Corder (either EL3300 or 3301), hard to say before taking the bottom cover off.

Anyway what is the first production year for EL3302, 1966?

[toshik1]

Early Norelco (August 1967) and Philips (October 1966). Hard to judge from the outside.
Both have early logos (inversed Norelco and Philips in larger font).

[PaulE27]

Hi Toshik1

In the UK we got several versions of this cassette recorder - the original Philips one, plus several others (Pye, Stella etc). But they all looked very different, and had different model numbers.

The Norelco and Philips versions look the same to me, apart from the logos. Were there any other differences? Could you go into a shop in the US and choose either a Norelco or Philips machine? Or did the name change at some time in the 1960's?

Paul

[Jimmyhaflinger]

The Norelco version also has " record, rewind, forward, level" written on its control panel and lacks the grey area around the level meter which Philips versions have

Philips had to use the Norelco brand for all models they officially sold in the US as Philco had successfully sued Philips over the similarity of their trademarks

[toshik1]

I have a couple of Norelco "carry-corders 150" on the way, will report shortly. They are same as Philips, maybe EL3300 or EL3301...
Any word on EL3302 production start date yet? No later than 1966 for sure!

[Maarten]

The 1966 week 44 EL3302/22D seems an early model to me, based on the week 47 EL3301. Some overlap will have existed, but presumably not too much.

The /22 part of the model number, most likely indicates it was originally destined for the German market.

[toshik1]

Originally Posted by Maarten

The 1966 week 44 EL3302/22D seems an early model to me, based on the week 47 EL3301. Some overlap will have existed, but presumably not too much.

Yes but this EL3302 was made in Holland (AH) while the EL3301 was made in Austria (WR)

[toshik1]

My first Norelco "Carry-Corder 150" is in, it's EL3301/54Z, AH from December 1965. Late version with electronic motor regulator, eraze-protection tab and reflective pad under the cassette window. Rebelted and plays fine, there is one major flaw - it's missing the cassete compartment cover!

Like many of them I saw on the videos it has only one rubber spacer in the motor cover, one hole is empty. All EL3302s I have have both spacers.

[toshik1]

Hm... EL3301 has developed a problem - tape stops randomly, after some tape accumulates on the right reel of the cassette (in the beginning of the cassette with no tape on the right reel plays fine). Then it might start playing again. Capstan keeps rolling, just the right reel clutch is spinning. This clutch under the right reel seems to have the same "light" grip as on the finely working EL3302s. Wheel (short-belted) pushing against the left reel also seem to push in a very light manner (compared to EL3302s as well). Maybe the pinch roller got old and does not pull tape hard enough? Pinch roller has a push-in mark from being pushed against the capstan for quite a few years (it's nor horrible, but it's there). I used a marker to note the pushed-in area and it seems to stop regardless of its position.

[Jimmyhaflinger]

is the tape slowing down before it stops completely? sure sounds like the pinch roller isn't doing its job

[toshik1]

No the tape instantly stops and sometimes starts.

[Jimmyhaflinger]

that's really strange, i never had such a problem before, the tape usually slows down erratically when there's poor traction from the capstan/pinch roller

[toshik1]

No it looks like the motor just shuts down (which is apparently not the case). Light pop into the side or top makes it spin again till the next stop

[Jimmyhaflinger]

maybe the sliding plate on which the heads and pinch roller are mounted isn't engaging correctly during playback or the pinch roller spring has gotten weak?

[toshik1]

It's not the pinch roller. Metal shaft that rotates the right reel during playback has a vertical play over 1 mm. Since the clutch is part of it it's way loose due to 1 mm play. Not sure how to cure that.
Another bummer is the left reel assy. Spring-loaded black piece which actually grabs the cassette reel teeth is too tight and sometimes it gets stock in lower position. Since the white base it slides over is pushed from inside with the t-shaped cover I guess there is no cure for that. I think the plastic just lost it shape over the years.

[Jimmyhaflinger]

maybe you can swap these faulty parts with ones taken from a scrap EL3302?

[toshik1]

Originally Posted by Jimmyhaflinger

maybe you can swap these faulty parts with ones taken from a scrap EL3302?

I'll need to make a really hard decision to scrap one! They are all up and running. Let me get the second EL3301 tomorrow it's still in the original box.

[Jimmyhaflinger]

i'd wait until i find a beat up (but not worn out) EL3302 to use as a part donor

[toshik1]

Another Norelco "Carry-Corder 150" is in, it's EL3301/54Z, AH this time from January 1966 came in the original box!
The head is worn out (first time on any 3302/3301 in my collection) and capstan shaft has scratches so I took the good parts out of another 3301.

Based on the dates it would be safe to say that the production of EL3302 started somewhere in the middle of 1966.